Recently a rather unique fundraiser was held by Southeast Alaska Independent Living and the Juneau Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, it was a poker run, whereby participants play a game of cards for prizes, get a little exercise and fresh air, and support some valuable community services. We spoke with Katie Chapman, the executive Director of the Juneau Chapter of the National Alliance for Mental Illness, who provided details of the event.

"Today we are having a fundraiser, SAIL and NAMI partnered last year, it's our 2nd annual Run, Walk and Roll, it's a one mile walk and a 5K run. It's not about your times, even though there's this big clock behind me, it's all about the cards in your hand. At all the locations that people are running past they're getting a card from a playing deck of cards and whoever has the best poker hand in the end wins. Depending on the cards in their hands, we've got prizes from supporters in the community, different businesses such as El Sombrero, the Island Pub; we've got B's Bistro donating a gift certificate as well as Pavitt's fitness center, they're donating one month membership to their fitness center, we've got some great prizes."

The event started at Twin Lakes, wound its way up past Bartlett Hospital, around the loop by SEARHC and back to Twin Lakes which was a mile, the runners continued on to the Pioneers Home and then back to make 5K. All the participants were given a playing card at each of five points along the route to make up their five card poker hand and compete for the prizes. The fundraiser benefitted SAIL and NAMI, who work closely with each other as partner organizations to spread their charitable works to those in need of it, all in all a winning hand.